Merchandising table



June 20, 1933. J. E. BALI-:s

MERCHANDISING TABLE Filed May 7, 1950 lill' Patented .lune 20, 1933 UllDSTATE,

reisen rer orrirca JAMES E. BALES, OF' AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0LYON METAL PRGDU'CIS,V INCORPORATED, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS MERCHANDISING TABLE Application led May 7, 1930. Serial No.450,358.

rlhis invention relates to tables in general and particularly tomerchandising tables for displaying various articles of merchandise.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a new and novel metaltable which is provided with a rim extending about the outer peripherythereof.

Another object is to provide a merchandising table of improvedconstruction which has a metal rim arranged about its sides to preventarticles of merchandise displayed on the table from falling or beingpushed od of the table top.

A further object is to provide a sheet metal rim for merchandisingtables which is stamped from sheet metal, which can be quickly andeasily applied to the table, and which can be readily and economicallymanufactured.

A still further object is to provide a mern chandising table which hasan exterior rim connected thereto and which is provided with novelcorner brackets for connecting the side eta..y 'ular constructionwhereby a second similar shape and construction can tened thereto tomake a single merchanable of the various shapes. 3U Numerous otherobjects and advantages will be apparent 't iroughout the progress oft'ie following specification.

The invention comprises in general a table `ch, in the particularinstance, is made raped comprising two sections which are oL rativelyconnected together. The table is preferably made of sheet metal and hasa sheet ietal top supported by rails which are mou ted on legs. The twosections are connectvd together as shown. A rim is arranged about theouter periphery of the table and this rim is stamped from sheet metal.The inside of the rim is straight and the outside conforms to anydesired shape. The rim is hollow and brackets are provided at thecorners. rflies-e brackets have reduced legs which fit inside of therim. The rim com prises a sheet metal body portion which is fastened totle table top by means of screws or bolts. rllhe corner bracket membersare 25. Still another object is to provide a table of fastened to thebody portion by means of screws or bolts having their heads recessed. Anouter ornamental molding is snapped over the body portion to cover upall the screws and to present a neat and ornamental appearance.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of theinvention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective View of the 60 improved merchandisingtable.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan section of the inner corner.

F ig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. B5

Fig. l is a detail plan section of an outer corner. i

Fig. 5 is a. detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4l.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates generally a table comprising thetwo sections 2 and 3. rlhese two sections are arranged in juxtapositionso that when fastened together, make an L-shaped structure as shown inFig. l. However, each section may be arranged relative to itscooperating section, or a number of sections may be connected together,to make a merchandising` table of any desired shape. v l

The present table comprises legs l to which rails or panels 5 areoperatively connected. These rails may extend down substantially closeto the floor giving a panel effect, or they may be considerablyshortened to provide a. rail of relatively narrow dimensions as iscustomary in tables of conventional design. The upper part of the railsor panels 5, Fig. 5, may have an inwardly extending flange 6 providedthereonand this flange 6 may be bent downwardly to provide thedownturned lip 7.

A top 8 is preferably made of sheet metal and is supported by the railsor panels 5. The top is bent over at 9, Fig. 5, to provide the edge l0.The edge l() is bent inwardly to provide a leg 1l which rests upon thetop of the panel or rail flange 6. The leg 11 is turned downwardly asshown in Fig. 5 to provide a downturned lip 12 which engages the lip 7on the rails of panels. This construction permits the top tointerfitti'ngly engage the panels or rails 5 and to have nestingrelation therewith.

A rim 13 extends about the outer periphery of the table and comprises aninner or body portion 14, Fig. 5. This body portion is in the shape of aZ-bar having a vertical leg or web 15 to which upper and lower legs 16and 17 are integrally connected. The leg 17 extends inwardly and engagesthe bottom projecting edge 18 of the table top 8. The web 15 extendsupwardly from the top of the table and bears against the outside of thetable edge 10. The upper leg 16 is turned outwardly and is provided withindentations 19 near the end thereof. lThe vertical body portion 14 iscrimped at 20 to provide an offset portion 21 and form a recess 22.

An outer portion or molding 23 forms the other part of the rim 13 andthis body por tion is made substantially channel-shape having upper andlower inwardly extending legs 24 and 25 which are integrally connectedto its main body portion or'web 26. The body portion or web 26 may bebent to the configuration shown in Fig. 5 to give it an ornamentalappearance.

The vertical body portion 14 of the rim 13 may be fastened to the side10 of the table top 8 by means of metal screws or other` fastening means27. After the body portion 14 is attached in the manner just described,the molding 23 is interfittingly connected therewith. The leg 24 of themolding has a downwardly extending lip 28 which fits in the recess 24and engages the offset portion 21. After engagement of the upper part ofthe molding is made with the body 14, the lower end of the molding ispushed inwardly until the elongated leg 25 on the molding extends overand engages the underside of the leg 17 on the body 14. The leg 25 ofthe molding, and the leg 17 on the body 14, are fastened to theunderside of the table by means of fastening means 29 such as a bolt andnut. The molding thus covers up all screw and bolt connect-ions andgives a neat and ornamental appearance to the rim, the body portion ofthe rim being fixed at two points to the table, and the moldinginterlocking with the body portion and rigidly connected with the tableby means of the same bolts 29 which fasten the body portion 14 to thetable.

In making sharp bends or corners it is impractical to attempt to bendthe rim. Therefore, outer corner members 30 and inner corner members 31are provided to conneet the rims on the sides. The corner members 30 and31 each comprise a main body portion 32 which is made to conform withthe outside configuration of the rim. These corner members have legs 33which are reducedat 34 to make them smaller in size so as to render themcapable of extending into the inside of the rim 13. The outer con`'figuration of these legs conforms substantially with the configurationof the inside of the rim. Straps or fastening bars 35 are formedintegral with the corner members 30 "f and 31 to permit the cornermembers to be fastened to the table. These corner members are fastenedto the table by the same fastening means 27 which hold the body portion14 of the rim in position. Where the corner members are applied, thefastening means 27 pass through the bars 35, the body portion 14 of therim, and the side edges 10 of the table.

Reinforcing members 36 may be arranged inside of the rim to strengthenit, F ig. 1. These reinforcing members are preferably made ofchannel-shaped material having two legs which conform with the innerconfiguration of the rim. The flat body portion of these reinforcingmembers are fastened to the table edge, the bolts 27 passing through thebody, the member 14, and the edge 10 of the table top. lThe outer edgesof the legs are cut to proper shape conforming with the molding 23.These members 36 may be spaced at intervals to brace the rim. Plates 37,Fig. 3, are fastened to the underside of the top of each section bymeans of fastening means 38 for holding the two sections together.

The tops of the corner members are provided with indentations 39, Fig.5, which aline with the indentations 19 in the legs 16. Fastening means40 extend through the legs 16 and threadedly engage the upper part ofthe corner members.

In assembling the rim to the table, the inner or body portion 14 of therim 13 is held in place with the web 15 against the outer rim 10 of thetable and the leg 17 against the underside of the table top. The cornermembers 30 are then placed in position and the fastening members 27tightened. The screws or fastening members 40 are then fastened inplace, passing through the upper leg 16 and engaging the brackets orcorner members. The corner members and inner portion of the rim are thusheld securely in place. The outer portion or molding 23 is then snappedover the body portion 14 and the legs on the corner members. Thedownturned lip on the upper leg of the molding is received inthe recess22 making a smooth and flush surface. The bottom leg 25 on the `moldingis fastened in place by the fastening members 29 passing through the leg25, the leg 17 and engaging the underside of the table. All fasteningmeans are not seen as the molding 23 covers all the fasteners exceptthose under the table ledge. yThose under the ledge cannot be seen dueto their hidden position.

The reinforcing members 36 may be spaced at intervals to reinforce therim, being fixed in place before the molding 23 is finally positioned.he rim is made in standard lengths and wherever possible is madecontinuous, extending from end to end. However, it is not necessary thatthe rim be made from a single continuous piece of material and the caseis not limited in this respect.

The invention provides a table made in sections which ma I be rioidlconnected tolocks with the body portion of the rim covering up anyfastening means which would otherwise be exposed, and is fastened to theunderside of the table ledge by the same means which hold the bodyportion of the rim to the table. The corner members have interfittingengagement with the sides of the rim, and fastening means for holdingthese corner members in place also act to hold the bony portion of therim to the table. The table and rim are rigid in construction and may bereadily and economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of thevarious parts without departing from the spirit of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved tomake all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the followingclaims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows l. A merchandising table madeup of a plurality of independent sections, means for fastening onesection to an adjacent section, rails for said sections, said railsbeing continuous and extending entirely about the table and fastened tothe sections, and interfitting means on said rails and sections.

2. A merchandising table made up of a plurality of independent sections,means for fastening the sections together, rails for said sections,interfitting means on said rails and ser-tions, a rim member detachablyconnected about the periphery of said table and moulding interlockingwith said rim member.

3. A table comprising a top having an integral inwardly extendingportion and forming a bottom surface, a flange bent downwardly from saidbottom surface, a rail, a top surface bent inwardly from said rail, aflange bent downwardly from said top surface, said bottom surface of thetop resting on the top surface of the rail and a side of the flange onthe bottom surface engaging a side of the flange on the top surface forinterfitting or interlocking the top with the rail.

l. A table comprising a top having a bottom surface, a downturned flangeon said bottom surface, a rail, a top surface on said rail and adownturned flange on said top surface, said bottom surface resting onsaid top surface and the flange on the bottom surface engaging theflange on the top surface for interfitting or ,interlocking the top withthe rail, a member detachably connected to said table, and a mouldinginterlocking with the last named member and providing a rim about theperiphery of the table.

5. A table comprising a top having a bottom surface, a downturned flangeon said bottom surface, a rail, a top surface on said rail anddownturned flange on said top surface, said bottom surface resting onsaid top surface and the flange on the bottom surface engaging theflange on the top surface for interfitting or interlocking the top withthe rail, hollow metal rim sections fastened to the outer edges of thetable and to said bottom surface, and corner members interiitting withsaid rim sections and fastened to the table to-p and to said sections.

6. A rim for tables and the like comprising a body portion fastened tothe edge of a table, a leg on said body portion and engaging theunderside of the top of a table, molding interfittingly engaging saidbody portion, and fastening means passing through the leg and a part ofsaid molding and engaging said underside.

7. A hollow metal' rim for tables and the like comprising a sheet metalbody member, integral upper and lower oppositely turned legsrespectively bent from the body, means for fastening a lower leg to anedge of the table, and a detachable molding` strip engaging both legsinterlocking with a part of said member and acting as a side of saidrim. l

8. A hollow metal rim for tables and the like comprising a sheet metalbody member having integral oppositely turned legs, means for fasteningsaid member to an edge of the table, a molding strip interlocking with apart of said member and acting as side of said rim, and corner membershaving a part extending into the hollow rim and fastened to a partthereof.

9. The combination with a table having a sheet metal top, of a rim forsaid top and comprising an inner member, corner members fastened to saidtop and said inner member, an outer member interlocking with the innermember, and means for fastening the inner member to the underside ofsaid top.

10. ln combination a table having a sheet metal top, a rim for said topand comprising a body portion, fastening means passing thiough the bodymember and an edge of the table, an inturned leg integral with the bodyportion and engaging the underside of said top, corner members for saidtable, legs on said corner members and fastened to said top and saidbody portion, a molding interlocking with said body portion and coveringsaid legs and fastening means, and means for fastening said molding tothe underside of said table top.

11. The combination with a table having a sheet metal top, of a rim forsaid top and comprising an inner member, an inwardly turned flange onsaid inner member and engaging the underside of said table top, anoutwardly turned leg on said inner member, an outer member having aninwardly extending leg engaging said outwardly turned leg, a lip on saidinwardly extending leg and engaging an inner face on the inner member,an inwardly extending flange on the bottom of said outer member andoverlapping the inwardly extending flange on the inner member, andfastening means passing through both ot said flanges and engaging theunderside ot the top.

12. The combination with a table having a sheet metal top, of a rim forsaid top and comprising an inner member, an inwardly turned flange onsaid inner member and engaging the underside of said table top, anoutwardly turned leg on said inner member, corner members for saidtable, legs on said corner and engaging the inner member, fasteningmeans passing through said corner legs and said inner member andengaging the top, fastening means passing through said outwardlyextending leg and engaging said corner legs, an outer member forconcealing said fastening means and said corner legs, an inwardlyextending leg on said outer member and engaging the outwardly turned legon the inner member, a lip on said inwardly extending leg and engagingan'inner face on the inner member, an inwardly extending flange on thebottom of said outer member and overlapping the inwardly extendingflange on the inner member, and fastening means passing through both ofsaid flanges and engaging the underside of the top.

13. A table comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sectionshaving one of its sides flush with an end of a second section, the otherside of the first named section being offset from the other end of saidsecond section and forming an L-shaped table, a leg at each .exteriorcorner of the L-shaped table, and an additional leg at the point wherethe first section is offset from the second section.

14. A table comprising a. plurality of sections, one of said sectionshaving one of its sides flush with an end of a second section, the otherside of the first named section being odset from the other end of saidsecond section and forming an L-shaped table, a leg at each exteriorcorner of the L-shaped table, an additional leg at the point where thefirst section is offset from the second section, and

a rim extending completely about the periphery of the L-shaped table andextending a predetermined distance above the finished top of the table.

15. A table comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sectionshaving one of its sides flush with an end of a second section, the otherside of the first named section being offset from the other end of' saidsecond secr tion and forming an L-shaped table, a leg at each exteriorcorner of the L-shaped table, an additional leg at the point where thefirst section is offset from the second section, a rim extendingcompletely about the periphery of the L-shaped table and extending apredetermined distance above the finished top ofthe table, said rimcomprising a pair of members, one of said members extending apredetermined distance above the table top, the other of said membershaving its top interlocking with the first member and its lower endconnected thereto.

16. A table comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sectionsbeing perpendicular to an adjacent section, the first section having atleast one of its sides offset a predetermined distance from an end of anadjacent section, legs supporting said table, there being a legpositioned at each exterior corner of the table, and an additional legat the side of the section which is offset, said additional leg beingconnected to the first named section and to the adjacent section.

17. A table comprising a plurality of sections, one ot said sectionsbeing perpendicular to an adjacent section, the first section having atleast one of its sides offset a predetermined distance from an end of anadjacent section, legs supporting said table, there being a legpositioned at each exterior corner of the table, an additional leg atthe side of the section which is offset, said additional leg beingconnected to the first named section and to the adjacent section, thetops of each section being flush, and a peripheral rim extendingcompletely about the periphery of the table and connected to thesections.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES E. BALES.

